GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 6, 2019)--Gloucester City resident and obituary writer Jim Nicholson, who died recently, was interviewed 30 years ago by FRESH AIR radio host Terry Gross from West Virginia Public broadcasting. It is an intriguing interview. His friends will enjoy hearing his voice once again. The article and the podcast were published on March 1, 2019.

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies, in for Terry Gross. There was a time when newspaper obituaries focused mostly on the rich and famous. Jim Nicholson changed that. The obit writer for the Philadelphia Daily News made the so-called common man obituary an art form and soon had imitators around the country. Nicholson died last week at the age of 76. In his 19 years on the beat, Nicholson subjects included an ice hauler, a trash truck driver, housewives and domestics. He told their stories with vivid details, not all of them flattering. But he wrote about them with respect and found all of them interesting. Terry spoke with Jim Nicholson in 1987.

Further into the 17 minute podcast present day radio host Dave Davies, who worked with Jim many years ago, talks with reporter David Gambacorta who wrote Jim's obituary for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer.

DAVIES-As it happens, I knew Jim Nicholson. My 20 years at the Daily News overlapped with his time there, and I remember he always seemed a little mysterious. He'd disappear from the newsroom for months at a time and never really explained why he was gone. He was a consummate gentleman always dressed in a dark suit. He had a thin mustache and a face described as kind of a poor man's Clark Gable. That phrase came from his obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News written by my friend and former colleague David Gambacorta. He knows where Nicholson was when he disappeared from the newsroom. Turns out, he was as interesting as the people he wrote about.

GAMBACORTA: So one of Jim's former colleagues in the military recalled arriving in Panama and finding Jim really being in charge of this counter drug operation even though he was not the top ranking official. In fact, he actually had people who outranked him working for him. And as it was explained to me, this is, you know, all but an impossible scenario to find in military operations. You know, it'd be very, very rare to have someone taking orders from a person that they outrank. But Jim had this sort of no-nonsense way about him and projected, I think, that he was just very much there for all the right reasons and was only interested in making their mission a success.

DAVIES: He was summoned out of retirement by none other than (General) David Petraeus.And Jim was 66 years old at this point. And from everything I gathered from his friends and from his family - did not really hesitate at all and, you know, within a few months was in Iraq and helping the military track activity of insurgents in the area.

The thing that his son remarked on, and a number of Jim's friends brought up, too, was the fact that he had been married for some time, and he and his wife were separated for quite a while. But in the late 1990s, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. And Jim actually moved back in with her and took care of her for the remaining years of her life. And that blew all of them away - you know, that sort of loyalty and dedication even though their relationship had soured considerably. But he didn't hesitate, you know? And as he told his son and told his friends, you know, he just believed that this was the right thing to do. And it didn't bother him. He didn't see it as a burden. And I think it really speaks volumes about the character that he had.

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GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 6, 2019)--Gloucester City resident and obituary writer Jim Nicholson, who died recently, was interviewed 30 years ago by FRESH AIR radio host Terry Gross from West Virginia Public broadcasting. It is an intriguing interview. His friends will enjoy hearing his voice once again. The article and the podcast were published on March 1, 2019.

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies, in for Terry Gross. There was a time when newspaper obituaries focused mostly on the rich and famous. Jim Nicholson changed that. The obit writer for the Philadelphia Daily News made the so-called common man obituary an art form and soon had imitators around the country. Nicholson died last week at the age of 76. In his 19 years on the beat, Nicholson subjects included an ice hauler, a trash truck driver, housewives and domestics. He told their stories with vivid details, not all of them flattering. But he wrote about them with respect and found all of them interesting. Terry spoke with Jim Nicholson in 1987.

Further into the 17 minute podcast present day radio host Dave Davies, who worked with Jim many years ago, talks with reporter David Gambacorta who wrote Jim's obituary for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer.

DAVIES-As it happens, I knew Jim Nicholson. My 20 years at the Daily News overlapped with his time there, and I remember he always seemed a little mysterious. He'd disappear from the newsroom for months at a time and never really explained why he was gone. He was a consummate gentleman always dressed in a dark suit. He had a thin mustache and a face described as kind of a poor man's Clark Gable. That phrase came from his obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News written by my friend and former colleague David Gambacorta. He knows where Nicholson was when he disappeared from the newsroom. Turns out, he was as interesting as the people he wrote about.

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FULL DISCLOSURE

The Gloucester City Lakes Association 7th Annual Earth Day Fishing Derby was held Saturday, April 19 at Martins Lake, Baynes Avenue and Johnson Blvd.
photos by http://www.fabulousphotosbykaren.com
A large crowd turned out for the event. Prizes were given out to the winners and each person who entered the contest received a hot dog and soda.

Thousands attended this year's Irish Parade. It was cold, brisk sunny day. Special guests included NJ Governor Phil Murphy and the Deputy Consul General, Shane Cahill. In the line of march were string bands, bagpipes, Irish dancers, Irish music, community groups and floats. The parade began at Martin’s Lake at the intersection of Baynes Avenue and Johnson Boulevard and proceeded down Monmouth Street to King Street before ending at Proprietor’s Park.
Before the parade there was an opening Ceremony Mass at St. Mary’s, 426 Monmouth Street .
Photo credits: Bruce Darrow, Gus Danks, Frank Kelly, Connie Lynn Woods

Gloucester Catholic High School conferred 170 diplomas to members of the Class of 2012 during the 83rd Annual Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 31, at Our Lady of Hope, St. Agnes Church in Blackwood.
Timothy Scaffidi was the Valedictorian and Claudia Gallagher was the Salutatorian of the Class of 2012.
Graduation festivities for students and their families began at 9:30 am on Thursday with the Senior Awards Brunch at Auletto’s in Deptford. Msgr. James Curran, pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish in Gloucester, was the main celebrant of the Baccalaureate Mass. Father David Beebe, a former faculty member, concelebrated, along with pastors of the sending parishes. Father Beebe also preached the homily.
Commencement ceremonies followed the Mass with Executive Director of Schools DSCN0603 for the Camden Diocese, Mr.Nicholas Regina, presenting diplomas. Gloucester Catholic Principal John Colman addressed the students and guests.
photos by Gus Ostrum
http://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2012/06/gloucester-catholic-high-school-class-of-2012-confers-170-diplomas.html#more

The photos were taken at random from several Gloucester High School and Gloucester Catholic year books along with some photos of a few class reunions. If you have a photo (s) you like to submit send it along with a description to BillGCN@verizon.net.

N.J. Society of Professional Journalists

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